Archive for category Thoughts and Ideas

So the rumor I’ve heard is there will be no more top ten repeats: after this year, artists in the top ten cannot return. I’ve also heard the rule is that artists in the top ten cannot return the year following that in which they made the top ten, but can after that. This is said to be the reason why the artist who did the monkeys on the blue bridge said not to vote for his, so he could return next year.

With 4/10 this year having been in the top ten in previous years – one in both! – this would let us see new artists up for prizes. I think this would be a really good change. However, it’s still nice to see these artists’ works, especially if they want to be here without even earning votes. I think it would be great to let them come back without voting IDs and have them show at venues away from the popular ones, in neighborhoods without as much ArtPrize traffic. This would draw people to outer venues while still allowing these artists to exhibit pieces but put new artists in the top ten.

As I think about it, the ArtPrize schedule doesn’t seem to be used as best as it could be. It begins on a Wednesday, and ends two and a half weeks later on Sunday. Three weekends are included, but the last weekend isn’t used for voting. It seems to me it would be better to start on a Friday and end on a Tuesday, with the winners’ announcement Monday. Run the first “week” of voting through the first two weekends, announce the top 10 – or top pool, preferably – on that second Monday with the second “week” of voting running less than a week.

There’s some changes I appreciated this year, and I’m going to blog about them here very soon.

1. ArtBus Shuttle: two routes and more stops, not limited almost exclusively to exhibition centers. Feels like it’s getting you where you want to go faster and closer. They also partnered with Hope Network to provide accessible transportation for those with wheelchairs and walkers – still requires a shuttle pass – ask a wayfinder for a card with the number to call.

Room for improvement:

-Shuttle drivers are requesting wayfinders on board – seems like a good idea, questions get asked on them.

-Clarity on using the Alpine bus route to see some art that way – it’s a good option if planning around the schedule. There’s already dots on the map for ArtBus stops, I’d add dots for other route stops, at least those near venues.

-Dash information – a free way to hop around town.

-Maybe a north shuttle which covers some more venues up there, making the other shuttles south-east (blue) and south-west/central (pink). I’d suggest the third route cover north Monroe and Front street.

-…but such neighborhoods still didn’t seem to get much exposure. I think each neighborhood should be represented in the second round of voting, so elsewhere I described a representative pool, where each neighborhood would have a number of their top 25 corresponding to their total number of pieces move on to the pool, from which the top ten would be chosen during the second week, still ending with the second week.

Optimizing ArtPrize – copied from a note on my Facebook written a couple days ago. Spreading this idea to anyone who will listen!

Voting and “liking” system – limitless “likes” available for casting online with discussion areas for each piece – continues through entire event. Similar to Facebook pages.
Only 10 votes per person during the first week, changeable until initial voting ends – so people must choose only what they think should be in the top ten.

Top ten not chosen after first week – rather a pool to be explained below. The top ten would be announced in order at the end of two weeks with no voting afterwards.

The pool would consist of a representative amount of artists from each neighborhood – such as if Center City has 600, Westside 400, and Heartside 200, the top 6, 4, and 2, from each neighborhood respectfully, would make it into the pool.

This system would include all neighborhoods. It would also cut down on votes cast for highly-likable pieces – such pieces invite voters to throw votes their way even though the voter may not feel the piece is actually worthy of the top ten. Instead, voters could cast “likes” for such pieces while saving votes for what they really believe merits awards. This may also generate further discussion and thought as people consider why they would choose a “like” or a vote for a piece.

Also, optimize viewer time by creating map symbols indicating when some or all pieces at a venue are viewable outside – maybe a moon and half moon. This way people can better plan their time and visit outdoor exhibits during off-hours. It would also cut confusion as to where to look for art at venues.

Personally, I also feel it would be appropriate to require venues to allow photography of the ArtPrize pieces – not allowing this cheats both the viewer and artist from social promotion.